Specialist Nutrition Grass & Forage crops Guide 2022

Specialist Nutrition Grass & Forage crops Guide 2022

Grass & Forage Crops Guide

www. specialistnutrition.ie

Key decisions in your forage system

MAXIMISING FEED EFFICIENCY OF GRASS ON YOUR FARM • Set up grazing season in early spring. Graze down to lower residuals early spring to promote three- leaf growth and promote higher quality • Measure residuals not yield as part of your sward management • Target 25-30% in your reseeding plan each year • Select grass varieties with 5 Tetraploid varieties for better grazing utilisation page 52 • Make multi species part of your resending plan page 53 • Oversow up to 1/3rd of your paddocks with clover in any year, and manage sward to 20-30% clover content page 53 • Early sow in August for Autumn reseed for improved graze out the following spring page 51 SILAGE Quality silage is the nutritional cornerstone of your forage • Increasing silage quality will improve forage quality, boost production, reduce waste and improve farm profitability. Cutting both invisible and visible clamp losses is an essential part of feeding more of what you grow 3 steps to improving silage as the nutritional cornerstone of your forage: 1. Precut cut test to optimise cutting dates 2. Use silage additive to speed up fermentation and preserve pit and dry matter at feedout 3. Test silage and balance diets accordingly LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO BOOST HOME GROWN FORAGE • Forage crops offer flexibility to select the right crop to balance a forage shortfall versus what is required to meet the feed budget for the winter • Locally grown cereal crops bring good value as an additional source of high-quality forage and to replace purchased feed • We offer a full range of forage crops from high yielding harvested crops like Fodder Beet, Maize and Wholecrop to in-situ grazed Brassicas • To determine which option suits best, consider the window for growing the crop, rotation, site and intended use

50 | Moist Feed and Forage Specialists

Getting the most from your ley

One of the main focuses at Specialist Nutrition is maximising animal performance from grazed grass.

Ensuring a grazing platform has the highest quality grass and grazing utilisation is essential to maximise grass as a feed source in economic terms. Grazed grass is the cheapest feed available to Irish farmers, and during the grazing season, animal performance is achieved almost entirely from grazed grass. Research shows that each extra tonne of grass dry matter utilised is worth €181 and €105/ha per year to dairy and drystock farmers, respectively. Sowing a grass mixture that produces high yields of quality forage throughout the season is key to maximising grass utilisation on farms. Specialist Nutrition has the best varieties for palatability and quality and uses Higher Voluntary Standard (HVS) seed in our mixes. Why target reseeding 25% of your grazing platform each year? Productivity – reseeding will give you higher producing swards with superior quality Animal Performance – increase daily liveweight gain and milk production Nitrogen Efficiency – new swards can use nitrogen more efficiently Economics – due to our favourable climate, grazed grass is the least expensive form of feed on Irish farms

Our team will collaborate with you, recommend the best mixture for your farm, and offer advice on establishment, grassland management, grazing utilisation, and silage conservation to deliver quality swards. Specialist Grazer is a mixture of the best grazing varieties available, namely Xenon and Aspect, two of only three varieties to achieve a five-star grazing utilisation trait rating on the Teagasc PPI. These are combined with Nashota and Bowie to prolong the period of quality forage production over the grazing season – Nashota has excellent spring growth and quality while Bowie is the latest heading variety on the PPI.

51

Specialist Nutrition Grass Mixures Highly versatile mixtures with an excellent combination of high yields, quality and persistence.

All our grass mixtures offer a consistent and versatile mixture suitable for a variety of growing conditions that will deliver:

Excellent grazing utilisation

High yields across the grazing season

Excellent quality and palatability for excellent animal performance

Excellent persistence

Specialist Grazer has selected the best-in-class grass mixtures proven to help achieve your production goals, whether producing the highest quality milk, beef or lamb from your herds.

Specialist Grazer HVS

Grass Mixture

A NxGen Tetraploid provides quality with high grazing utilisation, low grazing residuals and excellent persistence Bowie is an ultra-late variety with excellent quality. The latest heading variety on the PPI Aspect is highly palatable, as shown by its high ranking in the Teagasc grazing trials Xenon is the best performing variety on the Teagasc grazing trials

30%

Nashota

25%

Bowie

20%

Aspect

20%

Xenon

A high yielding white clover with a small leaf for excellent graze out

5%

Coolfin/Iona White Clover Blend

Grass mixture

Specialist Cut & Graze

35%

Bowie

Bowie is an ultra-late variety with excellent quality. The latest heading variety on Teagasc PPI A NxGen Tetraploid provides quality with high grazing utilisation, low grazing residuals and excellent persistence

25%

Nashota

25%

Triwarwic

Excellent grazing and recovery

10%

Dunluce

Very good for dry matter digestibility and silage yield. Late heading tetraploid variety with good ground cover

5%

Coolfin/Iona White Clover Blend

A high yielding white clover with a small leaf for excellent graze out

52 | Moist Feed and Forage Specialists

Incorporating multi-species swards into your grazing platform Multi-species swards are a sustainable source of high-quality forage. As well as producing high yields of quality forage, sowing multi-species can lead to a significantly reduced Nitrogen fertiliser requirement as well as increased animal performance and health. Multi-species swards produce large quantities of highly digestible forage rich in minerals and high in protein for grazing livestock. Apart from a couple of small fertiliser applications in spring, multi species swards are almost totally N self- sufficient. Having a mixture of grass and multi species swards on the grazing platform will ensure a steady supply of the highest quality forage through spring, summer, and autumn, buffering against drought and reducing the cost of forage production. Speak to Specialist Nutrition to help you select the best multi-species mixture for your situation. “The light type of soil we have is always a struggle during the summer months with as little as a week without rain putting the farm under pressure. Finding a forage that would withstand these conditions and fit into our intensive farming system proved difficult. After speaking to Nigel Condell, we selected the multi species 6 Species Herbal Ley mixture as the best fit for my situation. The multi-species sward proved to be a massive hit with my herd! So much so that I am continuing to work with Nigel on a reseeding plan that will incorporate the 6 Species Herbal Lay mixture into the rest of the farm over time.” Tom, Patrick, and Philip Murphy, Co. Kilkenny.

Managing clover in the sward The incorporation of white clover into grass swards has the potential to significantly reduce the reliance on inorganic N fertiliser and increase the financial and environmental sustainability of Irish farms. One of the significant benefits of clover is its ability to fix N in the soil in a form that becomes available to grass in the sward. As a forage, white clover is highly digestible, with crude protein content averaging over 20%. The use of white clover in grass mixtures can offset up to 150kg N/ha per year in inorganic N fertiliser. This is equivalent to 7 bags of 18.6.12/acre. For maximum benefit, a sward should be managed to 20-30% white clover content.

+800kg DM/ha

Opportunity to reduce N fertiliser

Dry matter intake +1.5kg/cow per day

Milk solids +30kg MS/cow per year

White Clover is included in all Specialist Nutrition grass mixtures. A high yielding White Clover Blend Oversow is also available.

“We used the Specialist Grazer Mix when reseeding and overseeding this year. We are extremely impressed with how this mix has grown on our heavy soil farm. The tetraploids in the mix rated very high on the PPI for palatability, and the cows have proven that with excellent graze outs.” Diarmuid Lee, Co. Galway.

53

PRODUCT FOCUS

the value of your slurry SlurriN PRO

The natural way to maximise

SlurriN PRO is an enzyme and bacterial complex for slurry treatment. With rapidly rising feed and fertiliser prices, there has been much discussion around the value of slurry on farm and using a slurry treatment to maximise that value. While there is an agronomical benefit to treating slurry, a good slurry treatment will do much more.

Negative fermentation of slurry leads to undesirable bacteria and gases. The enzymes in SlurriN PRO work to break down the solid fraction of the slurry, while the specifically selected bacteria work on the fermentable sugars to create a positive fermentation

and break down the fibres. Improved slurry quality

SlurriN PRO from Lallemand is a biological treatment containing a specific blend of enzymes and bacteria which work to: Improve slurry quality Improve the animal housing environment Improve slurry management by making it easier to handle

SlurriN PRO has been proven to increase the total nitrogen available, which in turn provides savings on artificial nitrogen requirements. • Treated slurry has been proven to have a higher N value – up to 400g/tonne fresh weight • Increased organic N creates increased rapidly plant available N • Increased mineral N in slurry means a cost saving on artificial N needed to meet agronomical needs Slurry is easier to handle and more valuable to use Treated slurry has time and financial benefits in addition to the increased N availability • Increased homogeneity across the tank • Decreased slurry solids • Increased fibre breakdown • Decreased odours These combine to reduce the crusting time needed to agitate the tank before spreading, leading to a reduction in handling time, reduction in diesel and a more valuable product being spread on the land.

Improve your animal housing environment

Treating slurry stored in slatted tanks with SlurriN PRO creates positive fermentation and fibre breakdown, which directly improves the environment for the animals housed in those sheds. • Reduces the development of undesirable bacteria, reducing bad odours • Lower ammonia (NH 3 ) emissions lead to higher air quality

54 | Moist Feed and Forage Specialists

Maximise the value of your forage

Maximising the value of your forage Quality silage is the nutritional cornerstone of your farm. Improving forage quality will boost production from forage, reduce waste and improve farm profitability.

Silage additives can preserve the nutritional value of silage and minimise waste through spoilage. Achieving a fast and efficient fermentation is vital if you want to produce high-quality grass silage. For farmers aiming to make high-quality silage, including an additive can significantly help improve silage fermentation and quality. The controlled microbial fermentation of forages helps preserve their nutritional value all year round. If you can increase the ME of your silage by 1 MJ, this can produce up to 4L extra milk, depending on the feeding rate. Taking a structured approach to grass silage making will improve forage quality, boost production from forage, and control costs.

Pre-cut testing, harvesting, and storage are essential links in the chain to your forage system. Forward planning will allow you to control the controllables and maximise the quality of your home-produced forages. An evaluation of the previous year’s forage production should always be considered when planning the initial and the pre-silage fertiliser applications. Pre-cut testing is an essential tool in planning your silage harvest. Specialist Nutrition can pre-cut test your grass for sugars, nitrates, and fibre levels to identify the optimum harvesting window. We utilise both field and laboratory testing where appropriate and use this information to assist farmers across the country in making the highest quality forage possible.

55

Silage Additives A Silage additive is always recommended to provide rapid lactic acid fermentation and to preserve as many nutrients as possible.

How to choose the correct Silage Additive

MAGNIVA Product

Recommended Crop

Ensiling Condition

Dry Matter Range

Features

Packing Size Tonnes Treated (TT)

Suitable for LVA (Low Volume Applicator)

MAGNIVA Classic

Grass

Wet Crop: Easy to ensile

Up to 26% DM

25TT & 100TT

Y

Improves fermentation and feed value

MAGNIVA Platinum Grass Wet

Grass, clover or lucerne

Wet and challenging crops: difficult to ensile

20-30%

50TT & 100TT

Y

Increased efficiency of fermentation, improved digestibility, 15 days opening option, increased aerobic stability Increased efficiency of fermentation, improved digestibility, 15 days opening option, increased aerobic stability Can be used with haylage at 1.5 times the application rate Increased efficiency of fermentation, improved digestibility, 15 days opening option, increased aerobic stability Single application rate and non- corrosive compared to equivalent acid treatments. Increased efficiency of fermentation, 15 days opening option, increased aerobic stability Increased efficiency of fermentation, improved digestibility, 15 days opening option, increased aerobic stability

MAGNIVA Platinum Grass Dry

Grass, clover or lucerne

Dryer crops

31-45%

50TT & 100TT

Y

MAGNIVA Platinum Wholecrop

Wheat, barley, triticale, oats

Dry crop

30-45%

50TT & 100TT

MAGNIVA Platinum Crimp

Crimped wheat, barley, triticale or oats

Mature grain

25-40% *moisture content

10TT & 25TT

MAGNIVA Platinum Maize Elite

Maize

Challenged crop (drought, rain, pests)

25% - 45%

50TT & 100TT

Y

Supersile Granular Supersile Granular minimises the losses which occur during fermentation while maximising feed value. Supersile Granular contains a combination of starter and finisher homofermentative bacteria designed to achieve fast fermentation in grass silage. Applied at 400g/ton Supersile Granular contains: L. plantarum CNCM MA18/5U – 2.50x10 7 cfu/g P. pentosaceus NCIMB 12455 – 2.25x10 8 cfu/g

Magniva Silage Additives Magniva Silage additives contain a patented combination of bacteria combined with enzymes to deliver outstanding results. Achieving the best possible fermentation with Magniva crop and condition-specific additives help minimise the losses which cut feed energy before silage reaches your cows Cutting both invisible and visible clamp losses is an essential part of feeding more of what you grow.

This combination of bacteria work to: • Faster pH drop •

Improved dry matter and nutrient recovery

•

Improved feed efficiency

56 | Moist Feed and Forage Specialists

Forage Crops

Forage Crops We offer a full range of forage crops from high yielding harvested crops like Fodder Beet, Maize and wholecrop to in-situ grazed brassicas. To determine which option suits best, consider the window for growing the crop, rotation, site and intended use.

Choose the correct Forage Crop

Species

Sowing time

Sowing rate /ha

Utilization period

Fresh yield t/ha

Dry matter t/ha

Crude Protein %

ME MJ /ha

ME kg/DM

Fodder beet

March - April

100,000 seeds

Winter

75 - 124

15 - 18

9

162 - 202

11

Kale

April - July

5 - 7 kg

Autumn/Winter

70 - 80

8 - 10

10 - 11

80 - 110

12.5

Stubble turnip

May - Aug

5 - 7 kg

Summer - Tyfon Autumn Winter

35 - 40

3.5-4

17 - 18

38 - 44

11

Forage rape

May - Aug

6 - 8kg

Summer/Autumn Winter/late Winter Autumn/early Winter Winter/late Winter

25 - 35

3.5 - 4.5

19 - 20

35 - 49

11

Swedes

April - June

350 - 800g graded 3 - 5kg direct

70 - 80

8 - 10

10 - 11

89 - 131

12.5

Forage rye

Sept - Oct

185kg

Early Spring

20 - 25

5 - 6

10 - 11

50 - 60

10

57

Maize Maize is a high starch (energy), high dry matter home-grown feed

SOWING INFORMATION

YIELD & FEED QUALIT Y

GROWING COSTS

€ 1618/ha* Fresh Weight € 29.41/t (@55t/ha fresh weight yield) Dry Matter € 0.09c/kg *as per Teagasc Crops Cost and Returns 2021

Crude Protein 9–10%% Digestibility Value 80% Energy (ME) 11.5 MJ/kg Starch 25–35%

Sowing Period Late March – Early May Precision Drill 98-120,000 seeds/ha

Average Dry Matter Yield 15-20 t/ha

Average Fresh Yield 50-60 t/ha

Soil Temperature +10 o C

Dry Matter 30-35%

TROOPER

RESOLUTE

LG 30.211

KONFLUENS

Open sown/ early maturity

Open Sowing / Early Maturity

Covered Sowing / Late Maturity

Covered Sowing / Late Maturity

Reliable production of high quality maize – great for an early harvest. An extremely high yielding variety for an early harvest with high starch and cell wall digestibility content. High starch content plus excellent cell wall digestibility for energy dense maize, reducing bought-in feed costs.

Nothing stands in the way of Resolute, it is impressive in the f ield and delivers in the clamp. Exceptional early vigour with highest yield trials. Excellent standing power for a safe and secure harvest. Resolute’s high starch content and improved cell wall digestibility (60.6%) produces energy dense maize

LG 30 211 delivers consistency, the biggest risk associated with maize. For a crop so heavily influenced by weather in Ireland, LG 30 211 represents a stable variety that farmers can rely on. Proven in animal feeding trials to give 0.5ltr more milk, per cow, per day.

New and in Demand! Konfluens is a big yielding high quality hybrid. Konfluens has a very high yield potential, combined with good starch and dry matter yield. Konfluens has performed exceptionally well on farm yet again and is fast becoming a farmer favourite.

When included in diets, it will increase intakes and have a positive effect on overall yields and milk solids in the dairy herd but equally, increased intakes improve daily live weight gain, kill out percentage and fat score in a beef production system.

Why Grow Maize? •

Ideal all-year-round feed

• •

Requires no specialised feeding equipment Makes use of high fertility land as well as capable of using high levels of home- produced organic matter (slurry and FYM) to increase the organic matter content on the arable farm Maize is one of the best forage options for anaerobic digestion offering much higher DM yields than other commercially grown crops (grass etc.)

•

Can be used in spring post-calving where cows have a high demand for energy, but equally as a buffer feed where there is a feed deficit situation (drought etc.) An excellent break crop in a continuous tillage situation while offering an opportunity for farm to farm sale of a valuable crop

•

•

58 | Moist Feed and Forage Specialists

Wholecrop Wholecrop cereals are a versatile addition to beef or dairy diets.

SOWING INFORMATION

YIELD & FEED QUALIT Y

GROWING COSTS

€1432/ha* Fresh Weight € 47.73/t (@30t/ha fresh weight yield)

Crude Protein 8-10% Starch: 20-30% Energy (ME) 11 MJ/kg

Sowing Period September-May depending on variety Precision Drill Triticale 160kg/ha / Hybrid Rye 75kg/ha Wheat 200kg/ha / Barley 170kg/ha Soil Temperature +5 o C

Average Dry Matter Yield 10-13t/ha

Average Fresh Yield 25-35t/ha

Dry Matter € 0.12c/kg *as per Teagasc Crops Cost and Returns 2021

Dry Matter 30-40%

*Figures for wholecrop based on Spring barley

TRITICALE

HYBRID RYE

BARLEY

WHEAT

Autumn & Spring sowing

Autumn sowing

Autumn & Spring Sowing

Autumn & Spring Sowing

Triticale will grow on most soil types. It can be grown as a wholecrop requiring fewer inputs than traditional cereals. It has excellent yielding potential and medium long straw. Early to mature, has a good resistance to lodging and tolerant to diseases. Wide opportunity for harvest depending on whether Spring or Autumn crop

Can be sown frommid-September - tolerates BYDV & Take-all Hybrid Rye grows well in a wide range of soil types (light to heavy). . Extremely drought tolerant. Rye outperforms wheat and barley in dry sites and dry seasons. Very secure harvest with very low risk of head losses, lodging, sprouting and Fusarium. Generally harvested in July leaving plenty of opportunity for a grass reseed post-harvest.

Grows well on most soil types. Has good over-winter ability Big, bold grain with good KP Has good disease resistance especially mildew High yielding with good levels of starch and effective f ibre Wide opportunity for harvest depending on Spring or Winter variety Can be harvested with wholecrop header or conventional mower without conditioner

Grows well in heavy soils Has good disease scores helping keep to planned fungicide budgets performs extremely well on both light and heavy soils High yielding with high levels of starch and effective f ibre Very palatable forage Can be harvested with wholecrop header or conventional mower without conditioner

Wholecrop cereals are a versatile addition to beef or dairy diets. Cereals can produce a starch rich forage crop that is also a good source of effective fibre, essential for good rumen function. Care must be taken to harvest at the optimum time for best results; however, the wide harvest window across the crops means this can be easily managed.

Why Grow Wholecrop? • Flexible crop to grow and wholecrop can be produced from spring or winter crops • Ideal year-round feed • Low protein content means wholecrop cereal grains are an excellent and very palatable complementary feed with either grass or good quality grass silage • Cost effective to produce • Can be under-sown with grass seed as part of a reseeding plan • Wholecrop cereals must be treated with a crop specific additive – see page 56 for details on the Magniva Platinum Wholecrop Additive

59

Forage Beet Fodder Beet is grown as a main root crop, produces substantial yields of high-quality fodder and is an excellent supplement to grass silage

SOWING INFORMATION

YIELD & FEED QUALIT Y

GROWING COSTS

€1891/ha* Fresh Weight € 15.25/t (@124t/ha fresh weight yield)

Crude Protein 9%

Sowing Period Late March

Average Dry Matter Yield 15-18 t/ha Average Fresh Yield 75-124 t/ha (ref Rathvilly)

Digestibility Value 80%

Precision Drill 100-110,000 seeds/ha

Dry Matter € 0.15c/kg *as per Teagasc Crops Cost and Returns 2021

Energy (ME) 11 MJ/kg

Soil Temperature +5 o C

Dry Matter 13-22%

BANGOR

DELICANTE

MAGNUM

ACKER

Lift & Pit

Lift & Pit

Graze / Lift & Pit

Lift & Pit

Fast becoming one of Ireland’s most popular beet varieties, Bangor has developed a strong following over the last three years. Bangor delivers the best fresh yield without compromising on dry matter yield. Bangor is 60% above ground, easy to harvest and has a smooth, clean root.

A new variety that is proving to have the best fresh weight yield for a white fodder beet. Fitting in well with both growers and buyers, as an early pulling beet with huge yield potential. This white fodder beet is proving very promising in terms of yield and also has a high dry matter content.

Magnum is Ireland’s most popular beet with its high yields and high dry matter (19 - 20%) content. Magnum is a great high energy beet with a leaf score of 8, is clean and easy to pit and works well pitted with maize. Magnum is suitable for beef and dairy stock.

Very high yielding, high dry matter white sugar beet. This clean beet has proven very popular countrywide with both contractors & farmers, and it has also proven its ability to drive improvements in animal performance

The roots are very palatable to stock and have superb feed quality. Specialist harvesting equipment is required to lift the roots, and storage is needed unless they are strip grazed in situ. Medium dry matter varieties tend to have a higher percentage of the root above ground and can be lifted with a top lifter and therefore have a relatively low dirt tare. These highly palatable roots can be fed whole to stock.

FORAGE CROP GUIDE

DAYS SOWING TO GRAZING

Why Grow Fodder Beet? • Huge yields • Improved milk yields •

AVERAGE ROW DEPTH CM

CROP

PACK SIZE

AVERAGE SOWING RATE KG /HA

SOWING DATE

UTILISATION PERIOD

Direct Drill Precisiondrill 100,000/ha 120,000/ha

Broadcast N/A N/A

- -

2.5 - 3 3 - 6cm 1 – 2.5 1 – 2 1 – 2.5 1 – 2

Oct - Feb Sept - Oct Oct -Jan Oct - Feb Oct - Feb Oct - Feb

Mar - Apr Apr - May

50,000 seeds 50,000 Seeds

Fodder Beet Maize

Ideal break crop for cereals Palatable and nutritious Can be grazed in situ for outwintering systems Clamp and store over winter High energy feed

• • •

90 - 110 150 - 220 60 - 100 170 - 250

6kg/ha 5kg/ha 5kg/ha 3kg/ha

8kg/ha 8kg/ha 7kg/ha 5kg/ha

5kg 5kg 5kg 500g & 1kg

Forage Rape Kale Stubble Turnip Swede

May - Aug Apri - Jun Apr - Aug April - Jun

•

60 | Moist Feed and Forage Specialists